UN Warns Growing 'Opportunity Divide' in AI Could Exacerbate Global Economic Inequality

The Risk of an Emerging AI Divide

A senior official from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized UN agency, has issued a stark warning regarding the global adoption of artificial intelligence. Tomas Lamanauskas, deputy secretary-general of the ITU, highlighted that the rapid advancement of AI risks creating a significant 'opportunity divide' that could widen the existing chasm between wealthy and developing nations. Speaking at the UNCTAD World Investment Forum in Doha, Lamanauskas emphasized that this goes beyond traditional digital disparities.

Infrastructure and Accessibility Hurdles

Core to the concern is the lack of foundational infrastructure in many regions. Data shows that Africa and Latin America combined represent only 3.3 percent of global data center capacity. Furthermore, approximately 2.2 billion people worldwide currently lack internet access, a prerequisite for utilizing modern AI tools. The economic implications are already visible: while 29 percent of the working-age population in developed nations utilize generative AI, that figure falls to just 16 percent in developing economies.

Economic Impact and Skills Transformation

Reports from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) suggest that without intervention, AI could reverse progress made in reducing international economic disparities. While some projections suggest a net creation of jobs, the transition period is expected to be volatile. It is estimated that 40 percent of workplace skills could shift by 2030, leaving those without the necessary educational resources or stable power grids at a severe disadvantage. Additionally, language barriers remain a significant obstacle, with only seven percent of African languages currently supported by major AI translation models.

Uncertainties and Policy Directions

While experts like Fazl Barez from the University of Oxford acknowledge that AI will disrupt routine cognitive work, they stress the difficulty in predicting the exact scale of job displacement. With 104 countries now possessing formal AI strategies—compared to just four a decade ago—the focus is shifting toward regulation and investment. The ITU estimates that bridging the core digital infrastructure gap will require $2.8 trillion in funding by 2030. Officials argue that global cooperation, rather than stagnation, is the only way to ensure the technology benefits a broader population.

For more information, visit the official report at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/25/ais-opportunity-divide-could-deepen-global-inequality-un-official-warns